THE GOLDEN RULE

The Golden Rule is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, in which each individual has a right to just treatment, and a reciprocal responsibility to ensure justice for others.

A Global Ethic: An Initial Declaration (1993)

The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic" from the Parliament of the World’s Religions proclaimed the Golden Rule ("We must treat others as we wish others to treat us.") as the common principle for many religions.

The Initial Declaration  was signed by 143 respected leaders from all of the world's major faiths, including Baha'i Faith, Brahmanism, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous, Interfaith, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American, Neo-Pagan, Sikhism, Taoism, Theosophist, Unitarian Universalist and Zoroastrian. In the folklore of several culture the Golden Rule is depicted by the allegory  of the long spoons.

The "Golden Rule" has been attributed to Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew and Luke). According to theologians and scholars Jesus lived between 6-4 BC to 30-36 AD.

The common English phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

The Golden Rule also has roots in the two old testament edicts, found in Leviticus: "Do not  seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor  as yourself" and "But the stranger  that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt  love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Old Testament Deuterocanonical books of Tobit and Sirach, accepted as part  of the Scriptural canon by the Catholic Church, also express a negative form of the Golden Rule: "Do  to no one what you yourself dislike."

The Golden Rule concept has been expressed by ancient cultures and faiths throughout the world with the same message in different words.

Ancient China: "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." - Confucius

Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."

Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own  loss." 

Bahá'í Faith: "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." - Bahá'u'lláh

Ancient Greece: The  Golden Rule was a common principle in ancient Greek philosophy:
"Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him." - Pittacus (640–568  BC)
"Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." - Thales
"What you do not want to happen to you, do not do it yourself either." - Sextus the  Pythagorean.
"Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others." -  Isocrates
"What thou avoidest suffering thyself seek not to impose on others." -  Epictetus

Ancient Egypt:

An early example of the Golden Rule that reflects the Ancient Egyptian concept appears in the story of The Eloquent Peasant (1850 BC): "Now this is the command: Do to the doer to cause that he do thus to you."

An example from a Late Period (664 BC-323 BC)  papyrus: "That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another."

Ancient Persia:

"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." ~ Ancient Persia